Aeroplane



Nov. 4, 1930. T. H. DUNC QMBE 1,780,672

AEROPLANE Filed June 28, I929 BY 3 g g ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Patented Nov. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mm a. rundown, or Eu maornmn Application filed June 28,

The present invention pertains to anovel aeroplane having particular reference to the class of aeroplanes commonly known as helicopters.

j The primary object of the present invention is to devise an aeroplane capable of material-- ly decreasing'the hazard of flying customarily found in aeroplanes of the present day construction and in addition .to provide an aeroplane which may rise vertically from a given point, which will hover over a given point, and which 'will descend and land upona limited space.

Another object of the presentinvention is to devise an aeroplane incorporating'all the advantages of the usual'monoplane or biplane type, having wings, fuselage and a propeller, to sustain horizontal flight, with the additional advantage of a helicopter.- To

attain this object an aeroplane of the monoplane or biplane type is provided with a ver? tical shaft to extend upwardly above the wings and fuselage, being rotated with an independent motor from the ordinary motor in A' propeller is these types of aeroplanes. keyed to'move longitudinally upon the shaft to rotate therewith-in such a manner that when the shaft is idle the propeller rests at the lowermost point on t e shaft and when the shaft is rotated the pr peller is caused to rise. The propeller when rotated with suin? cient speed slides vertically upon the shaft and theoutermost points of the propeller in revolving and rising describe a helix in the air. An obstructing member is placed on the end of the shaft and by the time the propeller rises to the point when it comes in contact with the obstruction it is revolving with sufficient speed to lift the aeroplane from the ground to take vertical flight. When a desirable height has been attained the forward propeller is employed to cause the aeroplane to assume horizontal flight.

With these and other obj ectsin view 'my' invention is hereinafter fully set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an aero- 1925. a Serial no. $74,312.

plane constructed in. accordance: with the present invention, and i I Figure 2 is a transverse cross sectional view through the aeroplane.

Like characters of reference are employed toidesignate the corresponding parts throughout.

The present invention is constructed for purposes of illustration upon an ordinary monoplane having a fuselage 1, wings 2 and a propeller 3, for sustaining the aeroplane in horizontal flight. The upper part of the fuselage is formed into a suitable housing 4 to support a secondary 'power unit or motor 5.

to rise and by the time it'comes in contact' with the head 9 it is revolving with suflicient speed to lift the aeroplane. The rising of the propeller 8 is ra id and to avoid a jar by the propeller 'su denly contacting with the head 9 there is provided a helical spring 10fsurroundingtheshaft 6 above thepropeller to cushion the impact with the head. Similarly there is provided a helical spring 11 surroundin the shaft 6 below the "propeller to cushion an jar which otherwise might be caused by t e propeller settling'to the lower portion of the shaft when the motor 5 is no longer operated.

The motor; 5' is to be provided'with any suitable clutch mechanism and is to operated entirely independent from the motor and propeller 3. Tliepresent construction permits the motor 5'-to rotate'rapi'dly enough to revolve the propeller 8 at a sufficient speed whereby the latter displaces sufficient air to, cause the'aeroplane to. rise vertically, this speed of the propeller being' attained. before the propeller reaches the head of the shaft when it reacts as resistsurrounding said shaft in a mannerresistin ance against rotation of the motor 5. In sudden contact between said propeller an against the head 9 there is not, a very great load upon the motor which permits the motor' to attain -maximum speed before the load is thrust upon it.

Although a specific embodiment of my invention has been illustrated and described it is to be understood that various alterations ma be made in the details of construction wit out departing from the spirit of the invention as depicted in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with an aeroplane having 'a fuselage, wings and a motor driven vertically disposed propeller, of a vertically extending rotatable shaft, a propeller splined to said shaft to rotate therewith and to move longitudinally thereon, a head on said vertical shaft for limiting thelongitudinal movement of said propeller, and resilient means between said propeller and said head for cushioning any impact of said propeller with said head..

2. The combination with an aeroplane having a fuselage, wings and a motor driven vertically disposed propeller, 'of a motor supporting-housing formed in the upper art of said fuselage, avertical shaft rotated y said motor, a lifting propeller splined to said shaft to rotate therewith and to move longitudinally thereon, and resilient-means limitiillg the longitudinal movement of said proe er. 1 p 3. The combination in an aeroplane of a vertically extending motor driven splined shaft, a propeller mounted upon said shaft to slide longitudinally thereon, positive means for limiting the sliding movement of said propeller, and resilient means interposed between said positive means and said ropeller. w

4. The combination in an aeroplane of a vertically extending motor driven splined shaft, a propeller mounted upon said shaft to slide longitudinally thereon, a head on said shaft for limiting longitudinal movement of said propeller, and resilient means Irlcouinted between. said propeller andsaid ea r v 5. The combination in an aeroplane of aveitically extending motor driven splined shaft, a propeller mounted upon said shaft to slide longitudinally ,thereon, a head on said shaft for limiting longitudinal movement of said propeller, and coiled springs surrounding said shaft for cushioning the longitudinal movement of said. propeller.

6. The combination in an aeroplane of a vertically extend-ingmotor driven splined shaft, a propeller mounted upon said shaft to slide longitudinally thereon, a head on said shaft for limiting longitudinal movement of said propeller, and a coiled spring other words before the, propeller 8 strikes said head.

k In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. TYRRELL H. DUNCOMBE. 

